Signal-apparatus.



W. K. PORTER.

SIGNAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED lUNE 3.1915.

Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

W. K. PORTER.

SIGNAL APPARATUS. APPLICATSON FFLED JUNE 3, 1915.

Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

2 SHEETS-EHEET 2.

Wbtwaoo Licacae.

TED %TATE% PATENT @FFT@E WILLIAM K. PORTER, OF PITTSBURGH, FENNSYLVANIA.

SIGNAL AP'PARATUS.

' I Application filed June 3, 1915. Serial No. 31,992.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM K. PORTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented oer the operator of the vehicle, for indicating the direction of contemplated movement to the approaching traffic or pedestrians and the provision of means for maintenance of illumination for the signal during night while enabling discontinuance thereof in the day, excepting when needed for the purpose of signaling.

The invention consists essentially of a casing containing a light, revoluble lenses of diiferent colors-associated therewith, and means for rotating the lenses, together wlth suitable sources of electric current for the light, and means for rendering the current available upon operation of the rotating means, or continuous without regard to said operating instrumentalities.

It is further contemplated to use retarding means for the operating member of this device so as to prevent improper functioning of the signals as well as insure practically automatic adjustment of the signal lenses in their relative positions.

For a full understanding of the present invention, reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which: I

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a vehicle, showing the application of my light and signal in the preferred location. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the light construction of my signal device. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the embodiment of my invention. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation, parts being broken away and shown in section to more clearly dis close the details of construction. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic View showing more clearly the circuit controlling instrumentalities for the signal lights. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View taken abouton the line 66 of.

Specification of Letters Patent.

lens 13 at the opposite side.

Patented Nov. 30, 1%15 a light reflector. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the retarding means for the operating member of this device.

Throughout-the following detail description, and on the several figures of the drawings, similar parts are referred to by like reference characters. I

Referring to the drawings, and specifically describing my device, the numeral 1 designates a motor vehicle preferably, to the dashboard 2 of which is connected at each sidea lamp casing 3. It will be understood that while I describe the signal devices as particularly utilized in side lights, it is equally operable and adapted for headlight arrangements as may be preferred.

Both of the side lights are of exactly the same construction and only one, therefore, 1

will be described.

4 designates a projection of the casing of a lamp which projects forwardly from a spherical body 5 within which is located an electric bulb or light 6. Each lamp is supported upon the upturned extremity of a tubular support 7 which is suitably secured by brackets 8, in rear of the dashboard of the vehicle. Within the body 5 is located a lens carrying member 9 supported preferably upon a horizontal gear member 10. The member 9 supports a plurality of lenses of different color designated, for the purposes of this description, a green lens 11 at one side, a white lens 12 in front, and a red I desire it to be particularly understood that the reference to these particular colored lenses is for illustrative purposes only because it is within the purview of the invention to utilize any desired colors for carrying out the functions of this signaling apparatus.

The use of colored signals is at the present time the best known expedient for handling traffic and the arrangement of the colored lenses hereinbefore mentioned is the carrying out of a desired arrangement of signals that would best serve the purpose of indicating to the traffic oflicer or other pedestrians and vehicles, the direction in which the vehicle is to be operated at intersecting points. (Vith this in view, it will be noted that the white lens is positioned so as to disclose a forward white light under nor-- Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view onmred lens, at one side, the usual danger color,

the line 7-7 of Fig. 2, showing more clearly indicates the movement of the machine,

when it is operated to take the position of the'white lens, and likewise the green lens is utilized. stood' that the lens carrying member 10 is rotatable so as to present a proper signal and for causing rotation I employ a horizontal shaft 1% for each lens carrying member suitably supported by brackets 15on the dashboard 2 and having a gear 16 meshing with the gear 10. At the opposite end of the shaft 1% a second gear 17 meshes with a horizontal gear 18 carried by the upper eX- tremity of the vertical operating shaft 19 Projecting rearwardly from the shaft 19 is' an operating lever 20 which has at its rearmost extremity a pivoted section 21 adapted to be'operated by means of the foot.- The pivoted section 21 is held in slightly raised position by a strong leaf spring 22 and said section engages with a retarding member somewhat in the nature of a brake 23. The purpose of this last-mentioned element is to obtain a proper operation or positioning of the lens members and for this purpose the pivoted section 21 engages in notches 24 located at the ends and at the central point of the member 23. \Vhen in the central notch the lens carrying memberis in the normal position with the white light showing forwardly, and when in the end notches the respective green and red lights are disclosed. It will be understood, of course, that the operator need only press the pivoted section 21 downwardly to disengage the same whereuponthe lever 20 may be moved laterally to cause the rotation of the vertical shaft 19 which correspondingly rotates the horizontal shafts 14:, shifting the respective lens carrying members to proper position according to thedirection the vehicle is to take.

For the purpose of illuminating the lights 6 of the lamps, I provide a main source of electric current, such as the battery A which is of sufficient power to be utilized for constant illumination as when the vehicle is operated at night. However, for day usage,

a source of electric current B of less power may be employed and this is possible by reason of the fact that the signals are onlyv operated intermittently as when it is desired to designate the contemplated movement of the v vehicle, all as ,will be more clearly understood from a further perusal of this description. I a

The electric source A is connected the main supply circuit C to the spaeedterminals 25, 26, in the switch box "D,said box contains a rotatable switch ineriiber27 carry'ing spaced arms 28 and-spring lever 29. In constant contact with theswitch member 27 most clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, is a terminal block 30 from which circuit wires 31 lead to the side lights, said Wires prefer- It will, therefore, be underably being housed within the tubular support 7 as shown in Fig. l of the drawing.

The auxiliary electric source B is connected to the terminals 32, 33, by the circuit wires E, as shown in Fig. 4. However, there,

circuit E is normally an open circuit and rotation thereof ineither direction, but un der normal conditions as shown in Fig. 4;,

the circuit closing member 34: maintains the circuit from the auxiliary source B in open condition.

Now describing th e use of the apparatus, y

it will be understood that when the vehicle is operated at night and a constant illumina tion of'the-light 6 is desired, the lever 29 of the switch box D is moved upwardlyto the contact, marked N, being held. upon' when it is desired to indicate the direction:

of movement towardthei right, as will be indicated by a red "light, the operator shifts the lever 20 toward the right bring'ingthe red lens of the rightlamp to the forward position of the lamp. "Obviously, movement in the other direction of the vehicle may be indicated by shifting of the lever in thereverse direction to that just mentioned. A particular feature of this device may here be mentioned, having reference to the construction of the casing projection 4, of each lamp which is cut away at itsouter and under port-ion as indicated at 4, and at the front extremity or rim of the projection and at the cutaway portion just mentioned is disposed a mirrors which is designed primarily to reflect the signal ina rearward direction so that the trafiic at the rear may also be apprised of the movement of the vehicle. The mirror. or reflector is doubly serviceable in that it illuminates the running'board quite adequately to enable occu- .32, 33, where before they connected with the terminals 25, 26 for the main night source A. No signal in this position 1s given obviously because of the circuit E being broken until the vehicle is to move either to the right or to the left, whereupon the operator shifts the lever 20 causing the circuit closing member 34 to contact with the terminals 37,

1. In a signal device of the class described,

the combination with an illuminant signal, of means for operating said signal, means for illuminating the signal, and means for rendering the illuminating means constant, or effective only under control of the operating means aforesaid.

2. In a device-of the class described, the combination with a multicolored signal, operating means for presenting a predetermined signal color including a shifting member, means for illuminating said signal, including an electric circuit, and means for illuminating certain. of said signal colors only, under control of the shifting member comprisinga control member movable in one direction to establish a constant illumination and in the other direction to afford a temporary illumination.

3. In combination, a casing, a lens carrying member, means for imparting rotation to said lens carrying member, a light associated with the lens carrying member, an electric circuit for said light, a switch in said circuit for maintaining illumination of said light, said switch being operable to interrupt the circuit to transfer control of said circuit to the rotating means aforesaid.

4. In combination, a casing,a' lens carrying member, means forfimparting rotation to said lens carrying member, a light associated with the lens carrying member, an electric circuit for said light, a switch in said circuit for maintaining illumination of said light, said switch being operable to interrupt the circuit for control by the rotating means aforesaid, and circuit closing means adapted to close the circuit on operation of the rotating means.

5. In combination, a casing, a lens carrying member, means for rotating said lens carrying member, a light associated with the lens carrying member, an electric circuit for said light, a circuit closing means in said circuit for automatically closing the circuit when the lens carrying member is moved by the rotating means aforesaid for flashing a signal, and breaking said circuit upon restoration of said lens carrying member to normal position, and separate means for maintaining the circuit closed and the light operative independent of said circuit closing means.

6. In combination, a signal, a light for illuminating said signal, operating means for said signal, main and auxiliary sources of current for said light, independent circuits therefor, and means for rendering the main source of current effective for constant illumination, or the auxiliary source effec tive for intermittent illumination under control of the operating means aforesaid.

7. In combination, a signal, a light for illuminating said signal, operating means for said signal, main and auxiliary sources of current for said light, independent circuits therefor, means for rendering the main source of current effective for constant illumination, or the auxiliary source effec tive for intermittent illumination under control of the operating means aforeSaid, including a'switch in said circuits movable in one direction to close the main circuit and in the other direction for rendering the auxiliary circuit effective, and circuit closing means in the auxiliary circuit operable by the operating means aforesaid.

8. In combination, a casing, a rotatable lens carrying member disposed therewithin, a plurality of lenses carried thereon shiftable for signal purposes, a light associated with the lens carrying member, a source of electric current for said light, a switch for .connecting said source with the light for night illumination, operating means for moving the lenses to signal therewith, a sec- 0ndv source of electric current for said light adapted to be connected therewith by said switch for day use, and means operable by the aforesaid operating means when the switch is in position for day use to effect an illumination of the light for signaling.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination with a multi-colored signaL'operating means for presenting a predetermined signal color, means for illuminating said signal, control means shiftable in one direction for rendering the illuminating means effective independent of the operating means and in the other direction for rendering said illuminating action subject to the control of the operating means.

In testimony whereof I afiix my si nature.

IVILLIAM K. PORTER. 

